Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 21 Democratic cosponsors · See all 21 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act of 2026," aims to ensure sufficient food assistance for the civilian population in Gaza. It requires the Secretary of State to certify that oversight policies are in place to ensure children receive at least three nutritious meals daily and other civilians receive at least two. These policies must be developed in coordination with various international agencies, donors, the Government of Israel, and Palestinian representatives. The Secretary must also submit a written description of these oversight policies to Congress. Additionally, the Secretary is required to report on the amount and distribution of food assistance and the number of people served. Finally, the Secretary must inform Congress of any instances where food assistance is denied entrance or misused.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Would children be better off under this?
The bill specifically mandates oversight to ensure children in Gaza receive at least three nutritious meals each day.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill aims to provide essential food assistance to the civilian population in Gaza facing food insecurity.
- Scored +7
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?
The bill mandates oversight to ensure civilians in Gaza receive a minimum number of daily nutritious meals to combat food insecurity.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Nutritional Security for Children: The bill seeks to ensure that all children in Gaza are able to eat at least three nutritious meals each day (Section 2(a)(1)(A)).
-
Nutritional Security for Civilians: The bill seeks to ensure that all other civilians in Gaza are able to eat at least two nutritious meals each day (Section 2(a)(1)(B)).
-
Increased Transparency: The Secretary of State must provide a report to Congress, made available to the public, detailing how much food is being distributed, the number of people served, the donors, and the distribution methods (Section 2(c)).
-
Accountability for Food Access: The Secretary of State is required to inform Congress of instances where food assistance is denied entrance into Gaza or is diverted or misused (Section 2(d)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill specifically mandates oversight to ensure children in Gaza receive at least three nutritious meals each day. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill aims to provide essential food assistance to the civilian population in Gaza facing food insecurity. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — The bill requires oversight to ensure adults receive at least two nutritious meals per day. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill's mandate for food security aims to provide stability for the civilian population living in Gaza.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill mandates oversight to ensure civilians in Gaza receive a minimum number of daily nutritious meals to combat food insecurity.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit public reports regarding the distribution of food assistance and instances of its denial or misuse.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this send more money or help to other countries? — The bill establishes a framework for the distribution and oversight of food assistance provided by the United States and international donors to Gaza.
- 10/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/8/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 16 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Shontel BrownDemocrat · Ohio
Steve CohenDemocrat · Tennessee
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Rosa DeLauroDemocrat · Connecticut
Mark DeSaulnierDemocrat · California
Madeleine DeanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Sylvia GarciaDemocrat · Texas
Robert GarciaDemocrat · California
Jahana HayesDemocrat · Connecticut
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Marcy KapturDemocrat · Ohio
Zoe LofgrenDemocrat · California
Stephen LynchDemocrat · Massachusetts
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Betty McCollumDemocrat · Minnesota
Seth MoultonDemocrat · Massachusetts
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia